Son watched his father being coated in petrol and burned alive by means of neighbour when they argued about reducing down timber

A son watched as his father was once coated in petrol and burned alive by means of a neighbour after a controversy over timber.

Joshua Bainbridge were slicing down timber along his father Colin at a  assets in Wheatsheaf, 100km northwest of Melbourne, when he heard shouting on March 14, 2023. 

Responding to the yelling, he raced over to his 66-year-old father Colin and noticed neighbour Stuart Lee, 65, dousing him with petrol sooner than environment him on hearth. 

Mr Bainbridge instructed Victorian Supreme Court: ‘Seeing my father ignite and scream as he was once burned alive is a reminiscence that may by no means go away my thoughts.’ 

The court docket heard Colin Bainbridge were clearing timber in a pal’s lawn, when with out provocation, Lee shouted at him to ‘f**ok off’.

When Mr Bainbridge spoke back with the similar word, Lee temporarily phoned the police, then again all 5 of his calls to the station at within sight Daylesford weren’t responded.

On the overall name, Lee was once diverted to Bacchus Marsh Police who prompt him to telephone triple 0 if he wanted quick assist.

The 65-year-old instructed the police officer he would homicide his neighbours if they didn’t arrive, Nine.com.au reported. 

Lee proceeded to go into his shed the place he decanted petrol from a jerry can right into a bucket, sooner than retrieving a lighter from the valuables. 

Following this, he went into his lawn the place he climbed over a fence and coated Mr Bainbridge in petrol after which set him alight. 

Mr Bainbridge’s son, Joshua, raced over in an try to assist his father and referred to as an ambulance for help.  

Lee had additionally contacted emergency services and products, claiming he had poured petrol over his neighbour in a bid to protect himself.

Mr Bainbridge was once transported to The Alfred clinic in Melbourne by way of an airplane, struggling burns to 81 in line with cent of his frame. He died later that night. 

Lee has since pleaded to blame to the homicide of 66-year-old Colin Bainbridge. 

The court docket heard how his son, Joshua, continues to re-live the horrific ordeal in his thoughts and mentioned: ‘I think like I’m balancing on a knife edge. 

Lee has since pleaded to blame to the 66-year-old’s homicide (inventory symbol)

‘He was once robbed of the closing years of his lifestyles for not anything,” he added: ‘The world is a worse place without him in it.’

Lee has a personality disorder with traits of paranoia as well as being suspicious of other people, according to a psychiatrist.

‘He has no real sense of guilt because he feels he was justified to do what he had to do,’ the psychiatrist said. 

At the time of the murder, Lee was not psychotic, nor did he meet the diagnosis of psychopathy, the psychiatrist said.

The 65-year-old’s lawyer, Julia Munster, said the incident would require a significant amount of time behind bars for Lee.

Justice Andrew Tinney will pay attention additional sentencing submissions on Thursday, however has already indicated he is thinking about handing Lee a lifestyles sentence.